Another fun-filled weekend of Super Rugby awaits and with no Aussie derbies at all in the round (coupled with a realistic chance that all four of their teams that are playing this week might lose) it may turn out to be a great round indeed! Let’s run the rule over the round 12 action…

Blues v MTN Lions 11 May at 09:35

This battle of the cellar dwellars will unfortunately do little to hold the interest, save for those desperate few keen to figure out how one of them could possibly conspire to lose to the other, so dire have both been in 2012. Let’s give this one to the Blues, based on home ground advantage and the fact that while they are shit, they probably aren’t quite shit enough to lose to Mitchell’s mob. Blues by 7.

The Bulls have a great opportunity here to go two from two in Australia, in the process knocking the Tahs well back into the chasing pack and opening up a bit of breathing space for the top teams. They had their fright in Melbourne last week and will no doubt have tightened up on defence; the Waratahs, in contrast, have basically chucked away their whole team and started again after being humbled by the Brumbies. It’s always a long shot to call a South African win in Sydney, but that’s what I’m going to do this week. Bulls by 5.

A few things make this one easier to call than might otherwise have been the case. Firstly, the Landers have just returned from tour and will face a Canes side presumably a wee bit fresher; secondly, Jamie Josephs’ side are now reeling with the sort of injury toll that makes it hard to even name a match 22. Neither side has been confirmed at the time of writing, but I reckon the Canes will be too strong here. Hurricanes by 4.

The mighty Cru, led by King Richie the Never-Onside, head to Melbourne to inflict more pain on the out-of-their-depth Rebels. Even though Todd Blackadder has opted to rest a few first-choice starters, the 750-time champions will romp to victory against a side that played their final against the Bulls last week. In round 11. Sheesh! Crusaders by 12

Oh please tell me we cannot actually seriously contemplate losing this game? Ok, good – I didn’t think so either. We haven’t seen either side yet, but expect the Sharks to wrestle their way to a dour, 6-point win. It will only be worth watching because it means another Aussie loss. Yeeha! (Not)

This, I suspect, will be a good game. The Cheetahs will throw caution to the wind and attempt to unsettle the structured Stormers, which can, of course, result in one of two things. Either they will break against the Stormers’ resolute defence and lose on penalties (like everyone else who has played the Stormers this year), or they might just succeed in opening the game up a bit and may even sneak a win. Don’t go to the bank on this, but I have a feeling there’s an upset looming here. Cheetahs by 5 and that’s based on nothing but gut-feeling.

Sunday’s game sees the champions up against the challengers and while the 2012 Reds make their 2011 counterparts look like a real flash in the pan, only time will tell whether the 2012 Chiefs are in fact the real deal, having looked the part in years gone by without ever managing to stay the course. The Reds, though, are not the side that will arrest the Chiefs’ march to the play-offs, because they simply aren’t good enough to do so this year. Chiefs by around 9.

Also don’t write of the Reds against the Chiefs. The Reds put up a good show against the Saders away from home and it won’t be a walk in the park for the Chiefs I think.

Blues Lions could go either way and I’m not all that sure about my LMS pick for the Blues at all anymore.

Highlanders Hurricanes can also go either way.

Interesting on Re:union last night. They showed the Highlanders remaining games of the year and they have a hell of a tough road to the final. That might open the door for the Sharks to sneak into the play-offs if they play well.

Comment 15, posted at 10.05.12 10:55:22 by Pokkel

Sharks will Win by at least 8 points.

Comment 16, posted at 10.05.12 12:30:39 by JJR

I can Finally pick the Sharks on LMS!

Oh wait

Comment 17, posted at 10.05.12 14:18:56 by Original Pierre

@JarsonX (Comment 8) : a number of picks for the Blues – I was just thinking that it is a game that the Lions have a chance to win

Comment 18, posted at 10.05.12 16:56:36 by rekinek

@Pokkel (Comment 15) : if I were to be a realistic supporter (ie. not the one that always think her team will win with BP I’d say that the Sharks are quite ok placed. The only loss that should not have happened was against the Chiefs. The rest were away losses – easier to stomach.